CARSON, Calif. -- LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena addressed the media following his team's 5-0 Western Conference Semifinal second leg victory over Real Salt Lake.
(On tonight's performance...)
ARENA:
We played well. We had a good week of training. Our expectations were that we are going win this game. Obviously, the result is a little surprising, but I totally anticipated that we would win this game.
(On Landon Donovan retiring...)
ARENA:
I think it’s the right time for him to retire. He’s ready to go. He’s given it everything he has. He wants to finish this year on a high note and then get on with other things in his life.
(On the Western Conference championship...)
ARENA:
I think whoever we are playing in the next games—they are going to be pretty defensive. We know that and we just need to play better. We need to be sharper on the ball. Do a better job opening teams up. We have to continue to move forward.
(On Leonardo’s play...)
ARENA:
Leonardo has played very well for us. He makes a good combination with Omar [Gonzalez] and AJ plays very well on the right side of the field. I thought the timing was right to try that group in the back.
(On the rationale behind playing Stefan Ishizaki...)
ARENA:
Weeks ago, when this whole series was established I knew I was going to play [Ishizaki] in the second game.
(On the team’s performance in their 5-0 win...)
ARENA:
We played well .We had three goals out of the midfield out of [Marcelo] Sarvas and Landon. Defensively we were pretty solid. I think they had one really quality chance off that corner kick. I don’t think there were too many out of the run of play. The entire team defended well on the night.
